PASIG CITY, (PIA) -- Fisherfolks and urban poor groups on Friday plead to some members of Congress to do away with the 2022 budget cut of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
At least 200 members of the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda (SMM) Navotas City, Kadamay Valenzuela City, and Our Lady of Sacred Heart Neighborhood Association Caloocan City expressed deep disappointment over some lawmakers who oppose the funding for the BDP and want urban poor communities to remain undeveloped and impoverished.
"Nakikiusap po kami sa ating mga senador at ilang miyembro ng party-list na huwag ninyo na pong tanggalin ang pondo ng Barangay Development Program dahil ito po ang daan para mapaunlad ang aming mga komunidad," Alvin Martin of SMM said during the awarding of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) "Sibol Bankabuhayan Project" and "Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery" held at Bagong Kalsada, Barangay Tangos South in Navotas City.
[Translation: We appeal to our senators and some members of the party list to please do not take away the funds of the Barangay Development Program because this is the way to develop our communities.]
Martin said based on their experience, the more communities staying below the poverty threshold, encourage the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to recruit more.
"Gusto lamang po namin makapamuhay ng tahimik at mapayapa at malayo sa impluwensya ng mga maka-kaliwang grupo na dati na kaming nalinlang na sumuporta sa kanilang maling ideolohiya," he said.
[Translation: We just want to live quietly and peacefully and away from the influence of pro-leftist groups that we have previously been deceived into supporting their false ideology.]
For Kadamay Valenzuela Chapter President Fidel San Juan Columna, he said it is very unfortunate that some senators and party-list members of Congress try to block the NTF-ELCAC budget, especially the BDP.
Columna said by blocking the budget of BDP and NTF-ELCAC, these lawmakers are inclined on perpetuating the hardship of impoverished communities that have been neglected for decades.
"Napakalungkot na mayroon tayong mga senador at party-list sa Kongreso na sinusubukang harangin ang badyet, lalo na ang Barangay Development Program. Nakikita ko na ang mga taong ito na nagsisikap na harangin ang pagpopondo ng NTF-ELCAC ay gustong ipagpatuloy ang paghihirap ng ating mga komunidad na ilang dekada nang napabayaan ang pag-unlad," he said.
Nolly Redilla, president of OLSHNAI Caloocan City also expressed the same sentiments and joined Martin and Columna in giving their manifesto of support to the NTF-ELCAC.
During the event, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. led the awarding of fiberglass boats to fisherfolks.
Danao, together with officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Capital Region, also distributed P3,000 livelihood assistance to some 200 beneficiaries to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wheelchairs were likewise provided to some illness-hit residents of the barangay, courtesy of the "Gulong ng Swerte" of PCol Lambert Alban Suerte, force commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of NCRPO.
In closing, Danao advised the public to be wary of the "lies and deceptions" being ployed by CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations, in order not to be victimized by the terrorist group.
The Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan is aimed at trumpeting the administration's accomplishments and provide better services to the Filipino people.
The campaign centers around the theme of "Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery" led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police, in partnership with the Presidential Communications Operations Office. (PIA-NCR)
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